Title IX - Wingate University

Title IX - Wingate University
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Title IX
In light of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky’s opinion in
State of Tennessee v. Cardona
, No. 2:24-00072 (Jan. 9, 2025), which vacated the entire 2024 Title IX final rule on a nationwide basis, Wingate University has revised its Title IX policy to be compliant with the 2020 Title IX final rule.  The revised, operative Title IX policy is available below.
ABOUT TITLE IX
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 exists to make certain that the women and men of U.S. universities are treated equally. To put it simply, Title IX says that you cannot “be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance” based on your sex. As a recipient of federal funding, Wingate University is required to operate in a nondiscriminatory manner.
In accordance with federal mandates, you can read the entire Wingate University Sexual Harassment Policy below.
At Wingate University,  our goal is to protect everyone, including students, faculty, staff and visitors, from any form of sex discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct or violence.
WHAT'S COVERED BY TITLE IX?
The programs and activities that are protected by Title IX are:
Academic programs
Athletics
Benefits and leave
Employee hiring and retention
Financial aid and scholarships
Housing
Pregnancy
Recruitment and admissions
TITLE IX RESOURCES
If you feel you’ve been discriminated against or are a victim of sexual harassment, we’re here to help. In addition to your Title IX coordinator, you can contact:
Campus Safety (704) 233–8999
Associate Vice President for Student Life (704) 233–8556
Office of Human Resources (704) 233–8810
Police (Emergency) 911
Residence Life (980) 210-4950
Wingate Police (Non-emergency) (704) 233–5657
National Domestic Violence Hotline:  800-799-SAFE
Turning Point (Union County NC) Sexual Assault Crisis Hotline:  (704) 283-7770
Turning Point (Union County NC) Domestic Violence Crisis Hotline:  (704) 283-7233
LGBTQ Hotline: 866-488-7386
National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-HOPE
Reporting Form
Wingate University Sex Harassment Policy
YOUR TITLE IX COORDINATOR
In accordance with federal regulations, we’ve dedicated a Title IX Coordinator responsible for the administration and implementation of Wingate University’s Title IX compliance efforts. If you have Title IX questions, complaints or concerns, please contact:
Title IX Coordinator:
Tariah Harrell
Stegall Building
(704) 233-8023
tar.harrell@wingate.edu
titleix@wingate.edu
WHEN TO CONTACT YOUR TITLE IX COORDINATOR
Students, faculty, staff, visitors and applicants for admission or employment, if who feel they’ve been the victim of sexual harassment, misconduct, assault, violence or sex discrimination, should reach out. Federal and state laws prohibit retaliation against individuals who file a complaint in good faith or participate in an investigation involving an alleged Title IX violation.
Jessica Head
Alumni Hall
(704) 233-8376
j.head@wingate.edu
Michelle Chaplin
Hendersonville Campus
(828) 697-0105 ext. 602
m.chaplin@wingate.edu
Brandie Everett
, aPHR
Director of Human Resources
Stegall Administration Building, B level
(704) 233-8718
b.everett
@wingate.edu
Molick Scott
Cannon Complex
(704) 233-8193
m.scott@wingate.edu
Title IX Appeals Process
How To Report Sexual Misconduct
What happens after I report sexual misconduct?
Title IX Training Sources
In Title IX cases, both the complainant and the respondent receive the outcome of the Hearing Board in writing.  The complainant and the respondent may appeal the decision of the Hearing Board and/or the sanction imposed on the respondent by providing a written statement to the Title IX Coordinator.  The only permissible grounds for an appeal are:
A procedural irregularity that may have affected the outcome of the matter;
New evidence that was not reasonably available at the time of the hearing that could affect the outcome of the matter;
A Title IX official had a conflict of interest or bias that could have affected the outcome of the matter;
The severity of the sanctions imposed on the respondent are incommensurate to the gravity of the sexual harassment
If you’ve been a victim of sexual misconduct or know of someone who has, please report it immediately. We have a variety of reporting structures, resources and support services for survivors of sexual assault or misconduct. You can find the answers you need in the Sexual Misconduct Reporting Quick Reference Guide and in our official policy guide,
Wingate University Sexual Harassment Policy
. You can also report sexual misconduct
using this form
.
If you file a sexual misconduct report, someone from the Title IX office will be in touch with you to discuss next steps.  Those next steps include supportive options (such as adjustments for missed class time, administrative room changes, class schedule or work schedule changes, no-contact orders) and decisions about moving forward with a Formal Complaint.  If a Formal Complaint is filed, a notice of allegations will be sent to both the complainant and the respondent and an investigation process will begin.  All parties have the right to have an advisor of their choosing in Title IX cases.  If the matter moves to a formal resolution process, there will be a live hearing with cross-examination.  The Hearing Board will make a ruling based on the preponderance of evidence and will assign appropriate sanctions. There is an appeal process, as well.  And in some circumstances, an informal resolution process may be used.  In certain cases Wingate University may, at our discretion, take remedial action independently of the complainant’s request to help preserve the health and safety of the community.
If you have any questions about sexual harassment, Title IX, or sexual misconduct, email Tariah Harrell (your Title IX Coordinator) at
tar.harrell@wingate.edu
or
titleix@wingate.edu
.
Wingate University is committed to the prevention of sexual misconduct and routinely conducts outreach and educational programming designed to increase awareness of the prevalence of sexual misconduct involving college-age students and other University constituents and employees, inform the University community about issues related to sexual misconduct such as substance abuse and the role of the bystander.
The University regularly conducts sexual misconduct training for its constituents, including the following groups:
Title IX Coordinator & Deputy Title IX Coordinators
Investigators
Members of the Hearing Board & the Appeals Officer
Employees
Students
Campus Safety Officers
Residence Life
These groups are trained, as appropriate and applicable, on such subjects as:
The University's Sexual Harassment Policy
Title IX and related regulatory guidance.
The University’s responsibility to address allegations of sexual harassment.
Recognizing and responding to reports of sexual harassment.
How to conduct an investigation into complaints of sexual harassment.
How to adjudicate or resolve reports of sexual harassment in an impartial manner by avoiding bias, conflicts of interest, and prejudgment of the facts at issue.
Which employees are “Mandatory Reporters” and which individuals and offices are “Confidential Employees”.
Understanding what questions and evidence are relevant to determination of responsibility for alleged sexual harassment.
Reasonable, appropriate, and sensitive investigative, interview, and hearing techniques that protect victim safety.
Issues related to dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
Resources:
NASPA Training Module
Decision Makers Module
Decision Makers Appeals Module
Campus Leadership Module
Coordinators Module
Investigators Module
Plenary Module for All